- German artist/producer Daso has a website stating the words: "Musik und Liebe" - music and love, and on the follow up release to his excellent "Daybreak", again on My Best Friend, you can definitely feel the love within in his music. What's also evident is his skill as a rock producer, but don't let that deter you from checking this one out - it's not all stars and guitars!
The title cut "Go Upstairs" is the one to go for here, and with good reason although the other two tracks are no slouches either. Key elements are a simply arpeggiated semi-deep electro bassline, very solid kick and supporting percussion, and some pretty lush disco-esque pads. Halfway through, a lighter electro line and a trippy little Nintendo loop add some playful atmosphere (why go upstairs after all?), before a very short breakdown of lush organ notes. Shortly after the bass and kick then start building everything back together. It's very nice to see no laziness on the outro as melodies are varied and the soft pads and Rhodes return, perhaps urging you "upstairs". Very listenable and yet extremely danceable, I want to hear this in a club now!
"Stay There" opens with a soaring retro synth (a la Blondie "Call Me") coupled with big emotional guitar chords and respectable percussion. A real feeling of building and anticipation develops aided by a secondary guitar riff. The kick is present, but the huge synth bassline complete with key changes is what Daso's been holding back, only to release it at the last moment. An emotional track, with both a rock edge and dancefloor cred, it's not the longest at 6 minutes so have something hot to play next. Otherwise it could be a good last track.
"Until I Find You" is the deepest of the three with a questing, searching feeling to it - funny that eh?! Seems Daso is good at naming his tracks. He's also good at getting some very warm elements (this time an acoustic guitar loop) to really come alive, and then backing it up with cool plucked notes, mysterious pads and a wide range of percussion (a kind of metallic 'clink' as a snare here). Lots of reverb without washing things away, "Until I Find You" could do great things, especially on a CD for the car or home.
TracklistA. Go Upstairs
B1. Stay There
B2. Until I Find You